The Lithuanian Ministry of Defence has selected Embraer’s C-390 Millennium as the country’s next-generation military transport aircraft. Announced at the Paris Air Show, the decision paves the way for the acquisition of three C-390s and marks a significant step in enhancing Lithuania’s operational readiness and interoperability with other NATO members.
The deal includes industrial cooperation that will provide opportunities for MRO capabilities, parts co-production, and partnerships with knowledge institutes
“We have carefully studied the various types of military transport aircraft available on the market, and our assessment has clearly shown that the C-390 Millennium is the most suitable platform to meet our national military operational requirements,” said Loreta Maskaliovienė, Lithuania’s vice minister of defence.
Bosco Da Costa Junior, president & chief executive of Embraer Defense & Security said Lithuania’s decision reflects Embraer’s commitment to strengthening defense capabilities in Europe. “In this regard, the C-390, with its versatility, performance, and NATO interoperability, is the ideal platform — readily available to carry out the most demanding missions,” he said.
The C-390 Millennium is a next-generation aircraft designed to operate in austere environments and under demanding conditions, offering superior speed, payload capacity, and mission flexibility. Its selection aligns Lithuania with a growing number of European and NATO allies including Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Czech Republic, Sweden, and Slovakia who have also chosen the C-390 to modernize their air forces.
According to Embraer, by adopting the C-390 Millennium, Lithuania will significantly enhance its operational capabilities while benefiting from the ecosystem and synergies present in Europe in terms of support and training.
The C-390 entered operation with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019, the Portuguese Air Force in 2023, and most recently, the Hungarian Air Force in 2024. The current fleet in operation has demonstrated a mission capability rate of 93% and mission completion rates above 99%.
The C-390 Millennium can carry a payload of 26 tons and flies at a speed of 470 knots. It can perform a wide range of missions, such as transporting and dropping cargo and troops, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting and humanitarian missions, operating on temporary or unpaved runways, such as packed earth, soil, and gravel.
The aircraft can be configured with air-to-air refueling equipment and has already proven its aerial refueling capacity both as a tanker and as a receiver by receiving fuel from another C-390 using pods installed under the wings.